If you’ve ever wanted your busted old hatchback to sound like a V8-powered supercar, audio company JBL might have the answer you’ve been looking for.
The company unveiled a new dongle at this year’s CES show called the Throttle, which can play a range of synthetic engine noises through the stereo to liven up your driving experience.
Choice of different engine sounds
Plugging into the car’s on-board diagnostic port, the £35 Throttle reads the vehicle’s throttle input and matches it to a variety of selectable engine sounds, ranging from a high-revving four-pot to a V8.
Although manufacturers have been experimenting with pumping enhanced engine sounds through the sound system for several years, this is the first time an aftermarket company has offered it.
Drivers can use a companion phone app to change the engine they want their car to sound like, and the dongle then pairs with the car’s stereo via Bluetooth to play the sounds through the speakers.
Bluetooth compatible
However, the Throttle also allows the stereo system to pair with more than one device at a time, meaning you can play music and listen to the various engine sounds simultaneously.
It might sound silly, but for a relatively low cost it might make a great gag present for a car fanatic. That, and the idea of a Fiat 500 that sounds like a Ferrari is just far too amusing to pass up on.